Arkansas aims at biodiesel

A Senate committee in the American state of
Arkansas is considering a bill to provide money to Arkansas companies willing to
build the equipment necessary to grind soybeans into oil for biodiesel
production.

The Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee will take
up the $20 million biodiesel incentive bill, which passed the House last
week.

Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell says that only about 20% of
Arkansas' soybean crop can be used to make the alternative fuel because of a
lack of equipment to grind the beans and extract their oil.

The
proposal, by House Speaker Benny Petrus, would offer grants to companies wanting
to build such equipment. It would also provide the state Department of
Agriculture with $16 million to distribute to companies that make biodiesel fuel
from soybeans or wood products.